A500/A500D series

Preface

Congratulations on your purchase of the TOSHIBA A500/A500D series computer. This powerful notebook computer provides excellent expansion capability, includes multimedia functionality, and is designed to provide years of reliable, high-performance computing.

This manual tells how to set up and begin using your TOSHIBA A500/A500D series computer. It also provides detailed information on configuring your computer, basic operations and care, using optional devices and troubleshooting.

If you are a new user of computers or if you’re new to portable computing, first read over the Introduction and The Grand Tour chapters to familiarize yourself with the computer’s features, components and accessory devices. Then read Getting Started for step-by-step instructions on setting up your computer.

If you are an experienced computer user, please continue reading the preface to learn how this manual is organized, then become acquainted with this manual by browsing through its pages. Be sure to read the Special features section of the Introduction, to learn about features that are uncommon or unique to the computers and carefully read HW Setup and Passwords. If you are going to install ExpressCards or connect external devices such as a printer, be sure to read Chapter 8, Optional Devices.

Manual contents

This manual is composed of the following chapters, appendixes, a glossary and an index.

Chapter 1, Introduction, is an overview of the computer’s features, capabilities, and options.

Chapter 2, The Grand Tour, identifies the components of the computer and briefly explains how they function.

Chapter 3, Getting Started, provides a quick overview of how to begin operating your computer.

Chapter 4, Operating Basics, includes tips on care of the computer and on using the touchpad, the fingerprint sensor, optical disc drive, Audio/Video controls, the web camera, the microphone, wireless communication and LAN.

Chapter 5, The Keyboard, describes special keyboard functions including the keypad overlay and hot keys.

Chapter 6, Power and Power-up Modes, gives details on the computer’s power resources and battery save modes.

Chapter 7, HW Setup and Passwords, explains how to configure the computer using the HW Setup program. It also tells how to set a password.

Chapter 8, Optional Devices, describes the optional hardware available.

User’s Manual

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